Shen withstands CBA's comeback bids

Shen's Chris Hulbert works to get around CBA's Andrew Signor during the Section II Class AA boys' basketball semifinal at the Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls, NY Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018. (Ed Burke-Special to The Times Union) less

Shen's Chris Hulbert works to get around CBA's Andrew Signor during the Section II Class AA boys' basketball semifinal at the Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls, NY Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018. (Ed Burke-Special to The Times Union) less

For the bulk of the first 24 minutes Tuesday, the Christian Brothers Academy boys' basketball team had little going in a positive manner and the team's fans had less to cheer about. Adam Zebrowski stirred things to life when the CBA senior reserve banked in a 3-pointer near midcourt to conclude the third quarter.

After the Brothers celebrated pulling within one point and the roar from the crowd subsided, Shenendehowa went back to the task of securing a Section II Class AA semifinal victory at Cool Insuring Arena.

The Plainsmen opened the fourth quarter on a 10-2 spurt and weathered a couple of comeback bids by the Brothers to prevail 48-40.

Shenendehowa senior guard Chris Hulbert, who turned in another in a long line of defensive gems Tuesday, said coach Tony Dzikas offered a calm message following Zebrowski's 3-pointer that cut Shen's lead to 31-30.

"You couldn't really do much about that. We contested him. It was a banked shot and a deep shot," Hulbert said. "(Dzikas) said, 'Don't worry about it and keep playing hard in the first two minutes, set the tone and finish out the game strong.'"

The Plainsmen used two baskets from reserve Josh Nails, and 3-pointers from Hulbert and Abbas Merchant, to extend their lead to 41-32 with 5:39 left. CBA (18-4) never shaved its deficit below six points the rest of the way.

"It was a really good feeling to finally give ourselves a cushion," Merchant said. "We responded well. We didn't settle (for jumpers). We moved the ball and pushed the tempo."

Shenendehowa (18-4), seeded No. 2, will look to capture the program's third title in four years Saturday against fourth-seeded Colonie (19-4). Game time at Cool Insuring Arena is 6 p.m. Colonie won at Shenendehowa 42-38 in Suburban Council play Jan. 19.

Last year, Shenendehowa fell to La Salle in the quarterfinals.

"It really means a lot to bounce back this year," said Merchant, who led all scorers with 18 points. "We're excited for the chance to play for the championship."

Hulbert, who contributed eight points on offense, delivered a sterling effort covering CBA junior point guard Jordan King in a box-and-one effort. Hulbert limited King to four points on 1-for-7 shooting.

In the quarterfinals, King delivered 27 points, including seven 3-pointers, in a 68-48 triumph over Bethlehem.

"We came out with a good defensive mindset that we wouldn't let him beat us," Hulbert said. "My teammates helped. They would hedge and recover, so he never really got open looks."

"I wasn't surprised," Dzikas said. "I knew Chris would come in and play him hard, make him work for everything and get help from his teammates."

The Brothers shot only 28.9 percent from the field (15 of 52), including 4-for-20 accuracy from 3-point range.